Item loading by chamber bounded by synchronized conveying surfaces

Abstract

An insertion system (e.g., in a warehouse or other item-fulfillment environment) can include a chassis. A bottom conveying surface, a first side conveying surface, and a second side conveying surface may be fastened to the chassis respectively along the chassis's bottom face, first lateral face, and second lateral face. A chamber may be bounded by the conveying surfaces and by a rear wall defined at least in part by the front face of the chassis. A linear actuator coupled with the chassis may move the chassis from a home position and toward an extended position to advance the bottom conveying surface, the first side conveying surface, and the second side conveying surface along with the rear wall of the chamber to decrease a size of the chamber and advance contents of the chamber in a depth direction toward a receiving zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An inventory loading system comprising an insertion system, the insertion system comprising:
 a chassis having at least a front face, a first lateral face, a second lateral face, and a bottom face; 
 a bottom conveying surface fastened to the bottom face of the chassis; 
 a first side conveying surface fastened to the first lateral face of the chassis; 
 a second side conveying surface fastened to the second lateral face of the chassis; 
 a chamber having bounds defined by the bottom conveying surface, the first side conveying surface, and the second side conveying surface, wherein the first side conveying surface and the second side conveying surface are spaced apart from one another to define a top opening of the chamber through which one or more items are loadable into the chamber, and wherein a rear wall of the chamber is defined at least in part by the front face of the chassis; and 
 a linear actuator coupled with the chassis to move the chassis from a home position and toward an extended position so as to advance the bottom conveying surface, the first side conveying surface, and the second side conveying surface along with the rear wall of the chamber to decrease a size of the chamber and advance contents of the chamber in a depth direction toward a receiving zone. 
 
     
     
       2. The inventory loading system of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis in the depth direction includes a rearward portion and a forward portion, wherein the bottom conveying surface, the first side conveying surface, and the second side conveying surface are fastened to the chassis in the rearward portion without being fastened to the chassis in the forward portion. 
     
     
       3. The inventory loading system of  claim 2 , wherein the chassis being fastened in the rearward portion without being fastened in the forward portion allows the forward portion to be moved by the linear actuator to a position of extending forward past ends of the bottom conveying surface, the first side conveying surface, and the second side conveying surface. 
     
     
       4. The inventory loading system of  claim 1 , further comprising rollers about which the bottom conveying surface, the first side conveying surface, and the second side conveying surface are looped. 
     
     
       5. The inventory loading system of  claim 1 , further comprising reinforcing plates positioned within respective loops defined by the bottom conveying surface, the first side conveying surface, and the second side conveying surface. 
     
     
       6. The inventory loading system of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator is arranged for travel alongside the chassis. 
     
     
       7. The inventory loading system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rail extending between and coupling the chassis and the linear actuator. 
     
     
       8. The inventory loading system of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion system is included in an inventory loading system that further comprises:
 a support frame extending in an up-down direction, a length direction, and the depth direction; 
 a tray transport system comprising one or more conveyors arranged for tray transport relative to the support frame in the length direction; and 
 a dispensing system arranged for receipt of a tray from the tray transport system and dispensing tray contents in the up-down direction; 
 wherein the insertion system is arranged to receive the one or more items from the dispensing system in the up-down direction for movement of the one or more items in the depth direction toward the receiving zone. 
 
     
     
       9. The inventory loading system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support frame extending in an up-down direction, a length direction, and a depth direction; 
 a tray transport system comprising one or more conveyors arranged for tray transport relative to the support frame in the length direction; and 
 a dispensing system arranged for receipt of a tray from the tray transport system and dispensing tray contents in the up-down direction; 
 wherein the insertion system is arranged to receive one or more items from the dispensing system in the up-down direction and move the one or more items in the depth direction toward a receiving zone; 
 and wherein the chamber is arranged to receive the one or more items from the dispensing system in the up-down direction. 
 
     
     
       10. The inventory loading system of  claim 9 , wherein the receiving zone is defined by a packaging system configured to provide packaging forming an opening oriented to allow insertion in the depth direction. 
     
     
       11. The inventory loading system of  claim 9 , wherein the chassis is moveable by the linear actuator past an opposite end of the chamber opposite the front face of the chassis. 
     
     
       12. The inventory loading system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the tray; or 
 the one or more items.